"Ok, ok, thanks, Charlie. I owe you one!" Angel said, ending the call on his phone as he and Cherri took a break from their running. "Alright, Charlie is sending the limo for us. We just gotta wait here."
"I owe you a million, Angie," Cherri said.
"Don't mention it," Angel said, huffing from running. "After all the stuff you've done for me, consider it even."
"What will you do about my sperm donor?" asked Cherri.
"Hide…maybe…?" Angel said with a shrug. "I'm not sure."
"I'd hate to think of what the bastard will do to you," Cherri said. "I guess you'll have to hide in the hotel with me. Do your trust your friends to keep a secret?"
"Ehhh…" Angel hesitated. "Most of them."
"That'll have to be good enough for now," Cherri said. "At least, we'll have Fat Nuggets."
At that moment, an emergency news update flashed on the TVs in a shop down the street.
"Ah, yeah, I'd love to sit down and hold Nugs again. What the-?" asked Angel, looking up in time for the TVs to go into a static frenzy.
Soon Vox's smiling face appeared in front of a black background.
"Friends, I've come to you today with a new special offer, mainly for those of you who can put up a good fight," Vox explained. "As we speak, the other V overlords and I are placing $100,000 bounty on porn actor, Angel Dust, and local kingpin and not to mention only beloved daughter of Valentino, Cherri Bomb."
Vox paused while images of Angel and Cherri were pulled up on the dark screen behind him.
"Shit," Cherri muttered.
"We want them alive, but you can handle Angel with extreme prejudice," Vox said with a low, sinister chuckle.
Angel and Cherri looked at each other in a panic before they turned back to the TV to hear the rest of the message.
"Cherri must be brought back unharmed. Be sure to bring them both back to the porn studio and remember, Angel…" Vox paused as the screens instantly transitioned from projecting separate messages to projecting a large image of Vox staring down at the two of them before he finished. "You can't run!"
Angel was stunned in fear for a moment, but Cherri summoned a bomb that blew up the TVs and said, "That's what they think! Come on, Angel! Let's go!"
Many civilians watching the program turned to the duo with malicious intent.
Angel summoned his many old-fashioned guns and his baseball bat as a warning. It did detour some but not others.
Cherri summoned a smoke bomb immediately and threw it at the group of demons who were getting too close.
After getting into a stance, Angel shot a few sinners before yelling back at the others furiously, "Get back! GET THE FUCK BACK!"
"Angel, look out!" yelled Cherri, gesturing above him.
Angel scrambled just in time to avoid a chain net thrown in his direction. He hopped onto his arms and legs before rolling on his back and shooting the assailants behind him.
"How long is it going to take for the princess to get here?" Cherri asked as she continued chucking bombs in every direction.
"Hell, if I know!" Angel yelled, shooting back attackers on his side.
"We need to move closer to her!" Cherri yelled. "We can't stay here!"
Angel fired at different angles, and when it was time to reload, he dropped the guns, summoned his bat, and grabbed Cherri. He then leaped to another building and started climbing upwards.
"Cover me," Angel said.
"You got it," Cherri replied, summoning some more bombs.
A few windows opened. Cherri tossed bombs into them to prevent them from attacking.
"We need somewhere we can defend from or hide easily," Cherri said while throwing bombs. "You see anywhere good, Angie?"
"I gotta focus on climbing, babe!" replied Angel. "Look for me!"
"You got it! Let's see…" Cherri said, scanning the buildings around for a good place to hide.
After searching for a moment, Cherri spotted a good-looking building. It looked like a casino with a glowing cat on it. It had a lot of bright neon lights that could produce a glare bright enough hide them from view. It wasn't the perfect place, but it was the best one she could see.
"Angel, how about that one?!" Cherri said, pointing to the casino.
Angel looked over, hiding his eyes from the lights, and said, "Should do well for hiding."
"Then let's go, Angel," said Cherri, holding on tightly to Angel's back.
"Hey, I think that's Husk's casino," Angel said.
"That flying cat demon you have a crush on?" Cherri asked.
"Can you blame me?" replied Angel dramatically.
Cherri snickered under her breath and said, "You think he'd help us?"
"Oh, yeah," Angel said. "He's got a tough exterior, but he's a soft ass."
"Sweet," Cherri replied. "But isn't it true he's a servant of the Radio Demon?"
"I think so, but he seems chill about it if he is," Angel said with a shrug. "I wouldn't worry about it."
"Maybe he'd help us too," Cherri said, settling herself on Angel's back. "Let's get going. I'll cover you."
"That part I don't think will happen," Angel said, starting to head to the casino.
"Oh, well, at least we'll get an audience with your future boyfriend," Cherri replied throwing bombs at a demon pursuing them. "Let's go!"
Angel flipped and swung from place to place until he landed on the casino window skittering up to the roof.
"Here, we are," Angel said.
"It looks like we aren't being followed either," Cherri said, looking around just to be sure.
"Ah, shit," Angel interjected as he let Cherri climb off his back. "I need to rest my legs."
"Dammit," Cherri said, moving to his side and sat down on the ground. "Are you alright, Angie?"
"Yeah, just been climbing a lot," Angel replied, sitting down for a minute.
"Wait," Cherri said with a snap as she put down her backpack and unzipped it. "I think I have just the thing."
After searching for a minute, Cherri found what she was looking for, an ice pack activated by friction.
"Put this on your legs, Angie," Cherri said, handing him the ice packs. "These are some of my favorite things in the whole world. Oh, I think I also have painkillers in here if you need them."
"Ah, I ain't hurt just tired," said Angel, getting to his feet again. "C'mon. Let's go see Husky."
"Your love conquers even your pain," Cherri said with a chuckle. "You're such a romantic, Angie."
Angel chuckled as they headed to the door.
Cherri twisted the handle, but the door was locked.
"Dammit," Cherri said. "It's locked, Angie."
"Hmm... " Angel hummed as he raised the baseball ball and hit it against the door.
The handle was breaking apart slowly when Cherri looked in her bag and said, "Hey, I just remembered. I have these."
She held up a packet of lock picks.
"Do you think you can use your suppressed mafia man skills to pick this lock?" Cherri asked.
"Ah, it's only suppressed when I don't have my hat. 'Sides you need a gentle, womanly touch like mine anyway," Angel chuckled grabbing at the picks and leaning down to pick at the door.
As Angel got to work, Cherri kept watch. All of Hell was buzzing as normal but she couldn't help feeling afraid. She looked outside and then looked back at Angel, her truest friend, and wonder what fresh Hell she had unleashed on his life and hers.
"Hey, Angie?" Cherri asked. "Can I ask you something? You'll think it's totally stupid, but I need to ask anyway."
"Shoot," Angel said.
"Angie, are you sure you want to do all this for me?" Cherri asked. "Are you sure you like me as much as you did before? Like it or not, that asshole's blood is in me. Part of him is in me. Even if you got away from Val, part of me is still connected to him. Do you resent me for that? Even a little bit? I resent myself for it."
"You aren't the same," Angel replied. "You're still Cherri. Val is still Val."
"But what if Val really hurts you because of what you're doing for me? I remember what he did to my mother. You know what he's like. What if he does something worse? You're really risking everything for me, Angie. Before it was fun, but now, I feel guilty," Cherri explained.
"You shouldn't," Angel said. "None of this is your fault. Take it from me. Being attached to a horrible family member is never your fault."
"But..." Cherri tried to protest.
"I'm attached to an insecure short-stack and a sexist boulder of a spider," Angel explained. "That don't make me like them, does it?"
Cherri snorted and said, "No, I guess it doesn't."
"See?" Angel replied. "Now, if I can just get this open…"
Suddenly, the doorknob started jiggling on the other side.
"Eh?" Angel asked letting go, stepping back, and stretching an arm out to protect Cherri.
Angel then grabbed Cherri and hid behind an air-conditioning unit.
"Who do ya think it is?" asked Angel.
"Hoping it's Husk," Cherri whispered.
The door slammed open, and Sir Pentious slithered out of the door with a few egg bois in tow.
Angel and Cherri paused in stunned surprise while Sir Pentious lamented to his minions over how much he lost at the tables.
"Oh, it's just you," said Angel as he stepped out into view, unimpressed by who came out.
Cherri hesitated for a moment, but she quickly stepped out next to Angel.
"What?!" Sir Pentious said in surprise. "What are you doing here?!"
"I got a friend here, scales," Angel said, waving him off as Cherri headed down the stairs. "But uh, thanks for opening the door for us."
"Come on, Angie," Cherri said, walking down the stairs.
"See you later, Pentious," Angel said.
"Hey, don't ignore me!" Sir Pentious yelled as Angel and Cherri headed down the stairs.
When the two continued to ignore him, Sir Pentious hmphed and turned away.
Unfortunately, that was when Sir Pentious noticed a ping on his phone with a notification of a new bounty. He smirked with a wicked smile and slithered to the doorway.
"Ohhhhh, how the tables have turned!" Sir Pentious gloated.
Angel and Cherri turned around in time for Sir Pentious to pull a sci-fi looking gun out of his jacket and continue his monologue, "Now it's you two who are in trouble! And once I bring you perverts in, I'll be in close quarters with the Overlords!"
"Shit," Angel muttered to himself as Cherri summoned a bomb.
"You have to catch us first, Edgelord," Cherri said, chucking a bomb at Sir Pentious.
Sir Pentious's frill flexed outward in a panic as he screamed at the oncoming bomb.
Sir Pentious ducked down as the bomb exploded over his and the Egg Bois' heads.
Meanwhile, Angel and Cherri headed down the stairs and ran into the casino.
Angel and Cherri finally made it to the next floor with Sir Pentious not far behind him.
"Dammit, this place is big," Cherri said, looking at all the casino tables and the demons gambling. "How are we gonna find Husk? Where do you think he'll be?"
"I'd say to look at the most crowded floor and my man'll be there showing off," Angel said, not hiding his gushing.
"Then we have a lot of ground to cover," Cherri said. "Let's go."
"Makes sense why the harlot is the way she is. Pervert! And of course, she just has the positions handed to her now!" the pair heard Sir Pentious yell to his minions down the hall.
"We better get scarce," Cherri said.
"Ordinarily, I'd say we should split up, but only I've met Husk and I'm not paranoid of leaving you alone right now. So," Angel said, grabbing Cherri's wrist. "Stick close to me."
"Are you ever gonna stop acting like my big brother, Angie?" Cherri asked.
"Maybe when you're taller," Angel said with a shrug.
"Ha, you giant shit," Cherri said.
"Let's go," Angel said.
The two ran into the crowd and began their search. They passed table after table of high rollers and gamblers who fortunately paid them no mind while avoiding Sir Pentious who desperately searched through the crowd for them.
It felt like they were searching forever, but Angel finally found Husk.
Husk was sitting at a round table dealing cards out and saying, "Well, I can go another round, boys, but I don't think your luck will change any sooner."
Angel squealed audibly and said, "Cherri, look! It's him!" before pushing Cherri and himself through the crowd to reach Husk.
"Oh, Huski-kins!" Angel squealed.
Husk looked up and glowered before he bent over and groaned, "No."
"Oh, come on, Husk," Angel complained. "You don't even know what I wanna ask. It's not just for me. It's also for my lady friend."
Husk dragged his claws against his face, looked up, and asked, "What do you want, Legs?"
"Cherri and I need transport to the hotel, asap," Angel said. "You see, we've got ourselves in a bit of a pickle."
"What kind?" asked Husk.
Angel pulled his phone out of his pocket, showed it to Husk, and said, "Well..."
Husk paused as his eyes grew wide as saucers and he said, "God damn…"
"Yeah..." Angel said. "We're in a bit of a bind. Do you think you can help?"
"Fuckin' damn it! I need a drink!" yelled Husk, getting up and heading to the bar.
"So, I take it that you saw the news about my buddy here," Angel said, following him to the bar.
"I have now," Husk said, pointing upwards to the TV as the bartender came over with the drinks for the trio. "I guess I can try to help you out."
"Seriously?" Cherri asked with a wide hopeful eye.
"Yeah, but understand one thing," Husk replied.
"What?" Angel asked.
Downing his drink, Husk looked at Angel with a pointed finger and said, "That doesn't mean Alastor is helping."
"I didn't think the Strawberry Pimp would be down to help us anyways," Angel said with a shrug.
"He probably wouldn't do anything unless we made a deal with him," Cherri said.
"Pretty much," Husk replied. "He helps things that benefit him."
"So, what do we do?" Cherri asked. "Angie says the safest place for us is probably the hotel and we're miles away from there."
"Normally I could just fly. It would be easy if it was just skinny over here, but with you, we'll have to take a car," Husk explained.
"Sounds fancy," Angel said, sipping his alcohol. "Which way do we go?"
"I have a garage out back," Husk said.
"You'll let us borrow your car?" Cherri asked.
"Yea, I'll meet you there," Husk said as he tossed Angel a pair of keys. "It's a truck I use to haul booze here."
"You don't know how grateful I am for this, Husky," Angel said, flirtatiously draping an arm over Husk's shoulder. "Cherri here is basically my little sister. I'll be sure to find some way to repay you later."
"You start now by getting out of my face," replied Husk.
"Fine," Angel said flirtatiously.
Unfortunately, just then, Sir Pentious made his appearance again.
"Oh, fuck off, edgelord!" Cherri said throwing a bomb in his direction.
Husk looked at Angel.
"Go and take the girl. I'll take care of the snake," Husk said rather aloofly.
"Thank you, Husky!" Angel said, blowing a kiss as he grabbed Cherri and ran through the smoke.
Sir Pentious coughed as the crowd ran around and rushed out of the room.
"Whore, where are you?!" Sir Pentious yelled.
"You got other problems skinny."
"Pardon? Who's that?!" Sir Pentious yelled.
"That would be me."
Sir Pentious turned around to see Husk leaning against a table slowly twirling a card in his hand.
"Oh, look! The Radio Demon's flunky!" Sir Pentious said with a smug grin.
"Yea," Husk said, nonplussed. "And you a few seconds to get your steampunk bullshit out of my business before I make you."
"I'll leave as soon as I capture those two whores you're harboring so I can get that money," Sir Pentious replied.
"5…" Husk said.
"What are you doing?" Sir Pentious asked.
"4," Husk counted down and narrowed his eyes.
"Are you seriously counting down right now?" Sir Pentious asked.
"3…" Husk continued.
"This is ridiculous. I'm not some petulant child who needs to be disciplined. I'm a kingpin! You stay here and make yourself look stupid. I'm going to find those whores and earn some money," Sir Pentious said, slithering away and looking around the room to see where Angel and Cherri had gone.
A playing card flew across the room, barely missing Sir Pentious's head. The card was razor sharp and sticking to the wall.
"2…" Husk counted nonchalantly.
Sir Pentious turned around and pulled out his gun.
"1!" Husk yelled.
And just like that Husk threw a card right at Sir Pentious's hand.
The card left a cut and the cobra demon retaliated with his gun.
Husk flew upwards, avoiding the gunfire as he soared down very quickly and hard toward the snake demon. He gripped the snake's neck with one hand and slammed Sir Pentious against the wall, hard enough to make it shake. Husk raised his other hand and prepared to strike.
Angel and Cherri made their way past the service and cooks until they reached the back garage filled with drinks, snacks, and other crates.
Cherri spotted the truck in the back and said, "I think that's it, Angie!"
"Ah, shit! Home free!" Angel cheered as he swung to the driver's side, climbed through the open window, and started the engines.
Cherri hopped in the passenger's side, and Angel opened the garage door and peeled out of the garage like a bat out of hell.
"You think your boyfriend will be all right, Angie?" Cherri asked.
"Oh, yeah," Angel said. "He's got enough muscle to boot!"
"Alrighty then, we owe him big time," Cherri said.
"We'll figure that out later," Angel said. "For now, let's get to the hotel."